Blood pressure is the force exerted by blood against the walls of the arteries. Systolic pressure occurs when the heart contracts; diastolic pressure occurs when the heart expands. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mmHg).

Hypertension is the diagnosis given when readings consistently rise above normal. Hypertension is the most under treated cardiovascular condition in the U.S., affecting roughly 20% of the population - nearly 60 Million people. It can lead to heart disease, strokes and other serious conditions.

The Joint National Committee (JNC) released new guidelines in May 2003. A new category called "prehypertension" has been added. Patients with prehypertension are at increased risk for progression to hypertension. It is thought an additional 45 million Americans have prehypertension.

The following standards for assessing high blood pressure (without regard to age or gender) have been established as a guideline. Please note that other risk factors (e.g. diabetes, obesity, smoking, etc.) need to be taken into consideration and may affect these figures. Consult with your physician for an accurate assessment.

JNC7 Classification Table – for adults within the U.S

BP Classification

BP          Systolic (mmHg)

BP Diastolic (mmHg)

Normal	<120	and	<80
Prehypertension	120 - 139	or	80 - 89
Stage 1 Hypertension	140 - 159	or	90 - 99
Stage 2 Hypertension	>160	or	>100

Source: The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute - May 2003.

WHO Classification Table – for adults outside of the U.S. (e.g. Canada, Mexico)

Optimal	less than 120	and	less than 80
Normal	less than 130	or	less than 85
High-Normal	130-139	or	85-89
Stage 1 Hypertension	140-159	or	90-99
Stage 2 Hypertension	160-179	or	100-109
Stage 3 Hypertension greater or equal to	180	or	greater or equal to110

SOURCE: Standards to assess high blood pressure, without regard to age or gender, have been established by the World Health Organization (WHO).

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